Steelhead in Washington
Washington rules and water for steelhead.
- 2 dailylimit
- 35.06 lbsrecord
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steelhead in the Evergreen State
Washington freshwater rules place steelhead on the line labelled "Steelhead". Word for word, the row gives: Release all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed.
WDFW credits Gilbert Pierson with the record, 35.06 lbs out of Snake River, Whitman County in 1973. This guide links it to 167 Washington waters, beginning with Yakima River, Skagit River and Kalama River. For 65 waters, the pamphlet prints a Special Rule about it. Its Latin name is Oncorhynchus mykiss.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelhead | all freshwater | Release all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed. | Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026.
Salt water where WDFW prints a steelhead rule
- Marine Area 1marine area 1
- Marine Area 2, Marine Area 2-1, Marine Area 2-2marine area 2
- Marine Area 3marine area 3
- Marine Area 4marine area 4
- Marine Area 5marine area 5
- Marine Area 6marine area 6
- Marine Area 7marine area 7
- Marine Area 8-1, Marine Area 8-2marine area 8
- Marine Area 9marine area 9
- Marine Area 10marine area 10
- Marine Area 11marine area 11
- Marine Area 12marine area 12
- Marine Area 13marine area 13
Printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), as posted on eRegulations; read October 31, 2026.
Waters with their own steelhead rule
Labels like "salmon and hatchery steelhead", "steelhead" and "steelhead (hatchery)" appear on 65 waters in the Special Rules tables.
Waters that break from statewide rules
Special Rules as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), pamphlet page 26 (pamphlet PDF), read on eRegulations October 31, 2026.steelhead, every form together
- Steelhead, summer-runWDFW listing
- Steelhead, winter-runWDFW listing
WDFW species listings, grouped on one page here.
Record weight for Washington steelhead
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelhead, summer-run | 35.06 lbs | Gilbert Pierson | Snake River, Whitman County | Nov. 23, 1973 |
| Steelhead, winter-run | 32.75 lbs | Gene Maygra | EF Lewis River, Clark County | April 14, 1980 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
Lakes, rivers and sound with steelhead
Rivers with steelhead
- Yakima RiverKittitas County
- Skagit RiverSkagit County
- Kalama RiverCowlitz County
- Methow RiverOkanogan County
- Wenatchee RiverChelan County
- Grande Ronde RiverAsotin County
- Chehalis RiverLewis County
- Humptulips RiverGrays Harbor County
- Klickitat RiverKlickitat County
- Skykomish RiverSnohomish County
- Snoqualmie RiverKing County
- Black RiverThurston County
- Bogachiel RiverClallam County
- Nooksack RiverWhatcom County
- Okanogan RiverOkanogan County
- Sol Duc RiverClallam County
- Cowlitz RiverLewis County
- Lewis RiverSkamania County
WDFW Fish Washington and high lake layer species lists, WDFW SWIFD distribution, record waters and 2026 trout plants; largest waters first.
Kin of steelhead in the WDFW tables
- Atlantic Salmonfreshwater
- Brown Troutfreshwater
- Bull Troutfreshwater
- Chinook Salmonfreshwater
- Chum Salmonfreshwater
- Coho Salmonfreshwater
- Coastal Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Lahontan Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Westslope Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Dolly Vardenfreshwater
Photographs of fishing water around Steelhead
Photo: Richard Probst – Shot in a Frame, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Ballance, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jonathan Miske, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
steelhead in Washington: questions anglers bring
What does WDFW allow for steelhead each day?
WDFW prints: Release all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed.
How big is the Washington record steelhead?
It weighed 35.06 lbs, out of Snake River, Whitman County in 1973; angler Gilbert Pierson.
Where do steelhead live in Washington?
It is on 167 pages, Yakima River, Skagit River and Kalama River first.
Do Washington hatcheries release steelhead?
No hatchery plant of it is on file for 2026.
On which Washington waters does the steelhead rule shift?
On 65 waters the line changes.
Is the steelhead season open now in Washington?
The row prints: Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed. An emergency rule may still close it.
Is a freshwater license enough for steelhead?
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
Who checks a new Washington steelhead record?
WDFW verifies records at its offices after a certified-scale weighing witnessed by two people.
Pick Washington water for steelhead
Ramps, limits and maps sit on each page above.